IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- AtheroNova Inc. (OTCBB: AHRO), a biotech company focused on the research and development of compounds to safely regress atherosclerotic plaque and improve lipid profiles in humans, today announced that Mark K. Wedel, MD, JD has joined the Company as Senior Vice President of Clinical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer.

"We are pleased to announce that Dr. Wedel has joined AtheroNova's management team, bringing his wealth of knowledge in development and clinical affairs to help us as we transition to a clinical-stage company over the coming months," stated Thomas W. Gardner, CEO of AtheroNova. "We look forward to Mark's invaluable contributions in the development of the Company's first-in-class compounds for atherosclerosis regression and lipid modulation technology, especially given his extensive experience in development and the clinical affairs of lipid modulating drugs."

Between 2009 and 2010, Dr. Wedel served as Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Clinical Development for Santaris A/S in San Diego, CA, responsible for planning the strategic clinical development of several locked nucleic acid oligonucleotides, including lipid lowering agents directed at apolipoprotein B and PCSK9. He was also responsible for obtaining FDA approval for the first micro RNA oligonucleotide used in Hepatitis C infected man and assembling Santaris' medical advisory board and clinical research staff.

Between 2002 and 2008, Dr. Wedel held the position of Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Clinical Development with ISIS Pharmaceuticals, where he oversaw the clinical research activities of 13 drugs in all phases of clinical development. He developed safety and medical affairs profiles for all drugs under development and was instrumental in the development and licensing of ISIS' flagship drug, a lipid lowering antisense inhibitor of apolipoprotein B, to Genzyme.

Between 1996 and 2002, Dr. Wedel served as Executive Director of Alliance Pharmaceuticals, a company developing liquid ventilation in acute lung injury. At Alliance, he was responsible for successfully leading the company through Phase II and III clinical trials, working directly with the FDA throughout the clinical process.

Dr. Wedel's career also includes consulting positions with the U.S. Department of Justice, serving as Medical Director for the Intensive Care Unit of Scripps Clinic & Research Foundation, and serving as Head of Pulmonary Medicine at Park-Nicollet Medical Center.

Dr. Wedel holds a Bachelor's of Science in Chemistry and Biology from Valparaiso University, an MD from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and a JD from Thomas Jefferson School of Law. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Chest Medicine, Critical Care Medicine and Sleep Disorders Medicine. He is the author of one book and more than 50 professional publications and articles.

About AtheroNovaAtheroNova Inc., through its wholly-owned subsidiary, AtheroNova Operations, Inc., is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery, research, development and licensing of novel compounds to reduce or regress atherosclerotic plaque deposits and to safely improve lipid profiles in humans. In addition to its lead compound AHRO-001, AtheroNova plans to develop multiple applications for its patents-pending therapies in market sectors that include: Cardiovascular Disease, Stroke, Peripheral Artery Disease, Dementia and Alzheimer's and Erectile Dysfunction, all of which have been linked to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis and its related pharmaceutical expenses for these indications cost consumers more than $41 billion annually in the United States alone. For more information, please visit www.AtheroNova.com.

Forward-Looking StatementsExcept for historical information contained herein, the statements in this release are forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are inherently unreliable and actual results may differ materially. Examples of forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the value of Mark Wedel's involvement with AtheroNova, and the development of applications for AtheroNova's technology. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include such factors as significant fluctuations in expenses associated with clinical trials, failure to secure additional financing, the inability to complete regulatory filings with the Food and Drug Administration, the introduction of competing products, or management's ability to attract and maintain qualified personnel necessary for the development and commercialization of its planned products, and other information that may be detailed from time to time in AtheroNova's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. AtheroNova undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.